Emotional Intelligence Among Psychiatric Nurses in Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Objective: This study aimed to assess emotional intelligence (EI) among psychiatric nurses in Baghdad, Iraq, and examine differences across sociodemographic and professional characteristics.
Methods and Materials: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 122 psychiatric nurses from Ibn Al-Rushd and Al-Rashad Teaching Psychiatric Hospitals in Baghdad between September 2025 and May 2026. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. EI was assessed using a locally adapted 15-item Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale with three-point response options (Cronbach’s α = .82). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U tests, and Kruskal–Wallis tests in SPSS 26.
Findings: The mean overall EI score was 24.48 ± 6.42. Based on study-defined classifications, 68 nurses (55.7%) demonstrated low EI, 38 (31.1%) moderate EI, and 16 (13.1%) high EI. Emotion-regulation items showed the lowest mean scores (1.49–1.54). Significant differences in overall EI were reported across age groups (p = .021), sex (p = .040), psychiatric nursing experience (p = .027), and mental-health training participation (p = .037). Differences by residence (p = .090), marital status (p = .164), and educational level (p = .078) were nonsignificant.
Conclusion: Emotional intelligence scores were predominantly low to moderate among psychiatric nurses. Further research using validated instruments and longitudinal designs is needed to clarify demographic associations and evaluate targeted professional-development interventions.
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